diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/dtls.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/dtls.cpp
index 30c43e773..7deb0cdef 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/dtls.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/dtls.cpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ otError Dtls::Start(bool             aClient,
     // do not handle new connection before guard time expired
     VerifyOrExit(mState == kStateStopped, rval = MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_TIMEOUT);
 
-    mState = kStateConnecting;
+    mState = kStateInitializing;
 
     mbedtls_ssl_init(&mSsl);
     mbedtls_ssl_config_init(&mConf);
@@ -258,10 +258,12 @@ otError Dtls::Start(bool             aClient,
     }
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_APPLICATION_COAP_SECURE
 
+    mState = kStateConnecting;
+
     Process();
 
 exit:
-    if ((mState == kStateConnecting) && (rval != 0))
+    if ((mState == kStateInitializing) && (rval != 0))
     {
         mState = kStateStopped;
         FreeMbedtls();
diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/dtls.hpp b/src/core/meshcop/dtls.hpp
index 8c5c50bf6..99324056a 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/dtls.hpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/dtls.hpp
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ public:
     enum State
     {
         kStateStopped = 0,
+        kStateInitializing,
         kStateConnecting,
         kStateConnected,
         kStateCloseNotify,